'When Life Gives You Tangerines' is a global hit... A sensation in Asia, the Middle East, and South America
Netflix's original series 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' has become a global hit, receiving a warm response from all over the world, including Asia, the Middle East and South America, shortly after its release.
'When Life Gives You Tangerines', which premiered on July 8(KST) and depicts the lives of the main characters Ae-soon (IU) and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum) from Jeju Island through the flow of the four seasons, has captured the hearts of viewers around the world with its timeless story from Jeju Island in the 1950s to Seoul in 2025. In particular, it was an instant hit across Asia, reaching the top of Netflix's viewing rankings in South Korea, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore and other countries just one day after its release.
'When Life Gives You Tangerines' has not only made a strong presence in Asia, but also in the Middle East and South America. It has also confirmed its popularity worldwide, entering the top 10 in Qatar, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jordan and Egypt.
• 1st place (10 countries): Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
• Entered the top 5 (20 countries): Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Japan, Kuwait, Maldives, Mexico, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates
• Entered the top 10 (15 countries): Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Greece, Jordan, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, Turkey, Venezuela
Co-written by director Kim Won-seok and screenwriter Im Sang-chun, the drama has received positive reviews for its in-depth storytelling and subtle direction, which have been seen in previous dramas My Mister, Signal and Misaeng. In particular, director Kim emphasised the changing trends of the times as the core of the drama, saying, "The times themselves are the villains," which has resonated with global audiences.
The star power of IU and Park Bo-gum, who played the lead roles, is also a hot topic. IU once again proved her acting skills with her sensitive portrayal of the bold literary girl Ae-soon, and Park Bo-gum is also much loved for his perfect portrayal of the pure and hardworking young man Gwan-sik. In addition, the profound acting skills of Moon So-ri and Park Hae-joon, who played adult characters, added depth to the drama and increased the level of immersion in the work.
Meanwhile, the show will be released in 16 episodes over four weeks, with four episodes released each week, unlike Netflix's previous release method. Viewers can follow the lives of the main characters step by step as the seasons change: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
So far, the series has proven to be a sure-fire hit in Asia, joining the ranks of Netflix's masterpieces, and is quickly spreading by word of mouth in the Middle East and South America. It will be interesting to see if "Fooled You" can establish itself as a global hit on Netflix after "Golden Hour: Severe Trauma Center".
"Fooled Me Good," which emotionally captures Jeju's beautiful natural scenery and the lives of its people as they change with the times, is expected to bring vitality to Jeju Island, where the number of tourists has dropped significantly due to sluggish domestic demand, thanks to the popularity of the drama, as well as "The White Lotus".